La Nochebuena

I guess it's no longer Christmas Eve (as the title might say), as it is 4:06 on Christmas morning in this moment. Just wanted to record somethings I did today. First of all I woke up to a powerless house, and it stayed that way until about 6:00 tonight. I didn't do anything in the morning... like actually nothing. Ok well actually we helped Ceci set the table for dinner, which was at our house later tonight. Papa Ernesto asked that Michael keep an eye open for the people who were supposed to come around to fix the power, so I was in the same place on the couch when Mama Ceci and Regina left (hair apt), as when they came back. And that was like two or three hours later, although I can't say for sure because none of the clocks were working. In that time I ate a two chocolates and talked with Michael about the good old days when there was snow for Christmas. Mama Ceci came back just as the electricians arrived. They arrived with a flash of electricty. We don't know exactly what happened, but there was a big bang and a flash of neon blue that apprently Michael saw. Then Papa Ernesto came and everyone went for sushi, and later hand-churned ice cream. When we got home I called Heather and my family, who were in Auntie Cath's house for Christmas Eve. It was really nice talking with them. And I phoned Grandma yesterday which was also really good. It's nice to hear familiar voices.

Then I showered and got ready for church. There was a service near our house that started at 9:00... I don't think I've gone to the same church more than twice with my family, and the guy at this service was interesting. He was a bit older and talked a lot. But it was nice because he seemed to know a lot of history and a lot about the bible.

When we got home there was already one family in our living room waiting for us. The atmosphere was very Christmasy with the bowls of nuts and the lights from the tree. Ernesto's side came, some friends of the family and then Tio Rey and Tia Lici. We did some readings with the nacimiento (Nativity scene) and then at midnight we took turns rocking baby Jesus. It's a tradition here to celebrate Jesus' birth at 12:00 by singing and two people rocking the cloth he is laying in. Hmm not sure if I explained that very well. The two youngest people start by each taking two corners and swinging him while everyone else sings. All of the youth end up having a turn in the end, and then baby Jesus is added to the Nativity scene. A bigger version of the baby is passed around and everyone kisses his forehead. After that we did the cousin gift exchange. Cousin Ceci had me, and I had Regina. I got a purple braclet and a silver necklace (crazy, I know).

At 1:30am we started eating dinner, which was a soup, fish, beef and apple salad. For dessert I ate tapioca. We finished around 3:30, and then we sat around the table and talked. Some of the kids went to the back property to watch a movie. Lea, Paulina and I ended up going upstairs to watch TV slash sleep. And yah... thats where I am now at 5:00!